William is most likely the son of John Braswell Sr, son of Richard Braswell the 1st and his wife Sarah. Records prove his wife was Milly. He left a will in Nash co., NC in 1794.
1744 - Feb. WILLIAM BRASWELL listed as an orphan, 14 years old, committed to the care of RICHARD WILLIAMS. (Bertie Court Records, NC Historical & Genealogical Register, Vol. II, page 625) (Bill Fields)
1755 - December 10, John Harrell, Bertie Co to WILLIAM BRASWELL, Edge. Co for 25 pds VA a tract on the north side of Tar River being formerly granted to the aforesaid Harrell dated 25 Mar 1749, beginning at a Spanish oak on the river then north 80 poles to a pine in RICHARD WILLIAMS line then east 214 poles to a black oak then south 116 poles to a hickory on the river bank then up the various courses of the river to the first station, containing 140 acres, John Harrell, (Jr), wit RICHD WILLIAMS, George Harrell, Thos Williams. Recorded Feb Ct 1757. (Edgecombe Co., NC [Halifax] DB 6 Pg 141 CTC)
1761 - September 28, RICHARD WILLIAMS: Wife Mary. Sons Richard, Benjamin, George, Reuben, Simon. To my Daughter CHRISTIAN BRAZELL to her and her heirs for ever ye plantation whereon she now lives, Daughters Sarah Williams, Martha, Elizabeth, Mary. Extrs: Wm Andrews, Arthur Brown. Wit: Henry Abbott, Arthur Bell, Will (?) Holland. (Bertie Co. NC Loose Papers, Estate Box, N.C. State Archives)
NOTE: Christian married Sampson Braswell, brother of William.
1763 - April 1, To WILLIAM BRASWELL of Edgecombe, 700 acres beginning at a White Oak RICHARD WILLIAMS corner then by his line W 46 poles to the Cypress Creek then up sd Creek No. 40 W 40 to LOD ALFRODs corner then by his line N 36 poles to his other corner then by his other line W 60 poles to a Hickory then N 80 poles to a Pine then E 140 poles to BENJA ARNOLs line then by sd line S 74 poles to his corner then by his other line E 196 poles to his other corner then S 380 poles then to & along his own line to the first station. Wit: EDWARD HALL WILLIAM BRACEWELL Surveyed September 15, 1762, by WM HAYWOOD Chain Bearers: RICHARD RABON, HILRY WILDER (SS-LG-12 C)
("See Edge DB C, 197 -- WILLIAM BRASWELL and wife MILLIA sold 300 acres of this grant to JOHN TANNER on 30 Jan. 1764 . . . See Warren DB 6, 183 -- Sold other 400 acres to ANDREW TANNER, 20 June 1777." William C Fields III) Thanks Bill! We will be forever grateful for your work. Rest in peace cousin.
1764 - January 30, WILLIAM BRASSEL, Edge. Co, planter to JOHN TANNER, same county for 20 pds proc money, a tract of land that said BRASWELL obtained a deed for from the office of Earl of Granville dated 1764, being on the north side of Tar River and on the east side of the (cypres) beginning on SIMON WILLIAMS' line running west to (Ledwick Alford's) line then north then east then south, containing 300 acres, signed WILLIAM BRASWELL, WILLA BRASWELL (III) (her mark), wit (Richard Ribon), (?? Dixon)(X). Recorded Apr Ct 1764. (Edgecombe Co., NC DB C Pg 197) NOTE: FILM HARD TO READ. CTC.
1777 - May 15, A Deed from WILLIAM BRACEWELL to ANDREW TANNER was proved by the oath of JOSHUA STEPHENS witness thereto and on Motion the same is Ordered to be registered. (Bute County, North Carolina Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1767-1779)
1783 - July 1, Nash Deed 1-311 Jacob Carter of Nash to JOSHUA STEPHENS 40 pds 300 ac on north side Tar River adj Robert Young, Edward Pursell, Turkey Creek & Wm. Braswell.
1794 - April 2, WILLIAM BRASWELL Wife: MILLEY. Sons: BENJAMIN; WILLIAM - all my land south of Tar R.; JOHN - 286 A. north side of Tar. R. on TANNER's line. Daughters: SARAH, PHEREBY, MILLY, ELIZABETH, PENELOPY, RHODA, CLOE, LEAH, PIETY, BERSHEBY, TOPPEN & COURTNEY. EX: Friends BENJAMIN MANNEN (MANNING) SOLOMON BATCHELOR, BENJAMIN WILLIAMS. Wit: JAMES MOORE, JOSEPH RITCHESON, JUDAH MOORE. May Ct. 1796
1794 - May 9, JOHN TANNER of Franklin Co., NC to BENJAMIN WILLIAMS of Nash Co., NC for 1 pound current money of this State, one certain track or parcel of laying lying in Nash County on the North side of Tar River, the said land to contain 1 acre, be the same more or less, which track of land is part of the land that was granted to Wm BRACEWELL by deed bearing date 1763; Beginning at a White Oak his own corner, thence West his line to the Sring [sic] Branch to a White Oak, thence up the said Branch to a Pine in the pattern [sic] line, thence to the first station. JOHN TANNER. Wit: SIMON WILLIAMS, WILLIAM BRASWELL, DANIEL TOUNZEN. Nash County May Term 1794. The within Deed was in open Court duly proved by the oath of WILLIAM BRASWELL and ordered to be recorded.